Corey Heim wins NASCAR Truck Series race at Charlotte, breaking a pattern of misfortune and late-race setbacks on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Despite previous challenges in the season, Heim’s perseverance paid off as he claimed victory at a pivotal moment.
Heim Overcomes Adversity to Secure the Win
Arriving at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Corey Heim was recognized for his remarkable consistency this NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, having completed nearly every lap and scored three prior wins. However, his campaign was marred by poor luck, including a blown tire while leading, restart penalties, and close calls with wrecks. Even with these hardships, Heim managed to lead in every Truck Series race and maintained a strong average finish, improving it from 6.6 to 6.1 after this triumph.
Reflecting on the unpredictability of his season, Heim shared,
“I feel like we have had a various amount of things that have taken us out of the race, … kind of a mixed bag of things,”
—Corey Heim, Driver. Despite having plenty of reason for frustration, Heim said,
“I think the frustration would have been worse if we hadn’t been so consistent. I’ve always been good at looking past the previous week and moving on. At the end of the day, the speed has been there each week.”
—Corey Heim, Driver.
Late-Race Cautions Challenge Leaders Once Again
The closing laps have often been perilous for Heim, with many of his races disrupted by late cautions. He discussed maintaining focus and positivity even when expecting another twist of fate, saying,
“No doubt, the last 20 laps have been the sweet spot of when the cautions would come out,”
—Corey Heim, Driver. Aware of the recurring challenges, he admitted,
“I hate to have a pessimistic approach in these races but it seems like something inevitable would happen. Even if it did come out, I would have to go out, rest and race to the best of my ability. The people up front did a good job of giving room and respecting (each other) up front. A very rewarding feeling.”
—Corey Heim, Driver.
Strong Results for Niece Motorsports
Ross Chastain and Kaden Honeycutt, both racing for Niece Motorsports, followed Heim across the finish line, taking second and third place respectively. Honeycutt led on three occasions, controlling the race for 10 laps, while Chastain led for 11 laps. However, both were unable to match Heim’s pace in the crucial final stages. Niece Motorsports celebrated an impressive team effort as Matt Mills, driving the No. 42 truck, finished seventh after recovering from a penalty for an uncontrolled tire during a late pit stop—marking the first time all three Niece trucks reached the Top 10 this season.
Chastain praised his team’s effort, stating,
“That’s a heck of an effort for Niece Motorsports across the board for three in the Top seven, with Kaden right there on my rear bumper,”
—Ross Chastain, Driver. He also acknowledged the prowess of Heim and his crew chief, saying,
“But for us, the Protect Your Melon Chevy, it’s best in class. I mean, the No. 11 with Corey (Heim) and Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief), they’re the best in the field right now and none of us had anything for them.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver.
Mills Achieves Best Finish of the Year
For Matt Mills, the night marked his strongest finish of the season, and he reflected on both the challenges faced and the team’s resilience. Mills expressed a slight disappointment at not joining his teammates at the very front, but was upbeat about the result.
“I wish I could have joined my teammates up there, but we just kind of were playing catch up there after stage one,”
—Matt Mills, Driver. He further explained the team’s strategy and adjustments,
“It was good to actually get stage points, but we had an uncontrolled tire and I had to go to the back and kind of restart our day. But, the truck was really fast. Mike (Shiplett, crew chief) made good calls to address how the track was.”
—Matt Mills, Driver.
The Significance of Heim’s Victory
Corey Heim’s win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway not only showcases his resilience and skill but also establishes him as a formidable competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season. His ability to put past setbacks behind him, combined with the strong performance from Niece Motorsports, signals heightened competition as the season progresses. All eyes will be on Heim and his rivals in upcoming races, as drivers and teams pull from experiences at Charlotte for momentum in the races ahead.
